Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Wooster, Ohio
54.3% Acceptance Rate
The College of Wooster — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
54.3%Acceptance Rate
3.76Avg GPA
1370Avg SAT
30Avg ACT
$73,075Annual Cost
$59,629Grad Salary
19.5%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
54.3%
Avg GPA
3.76
Avg SAT
1370
Avg ACT
30
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
1250–1450
ACT Middle 50%
27–32
Need-Based Aid
19.5% receive Pell
The College of Wooster, established in 1866 in Ohio, is a top liberal arts college renowned for undergraduate research. Its Independent Study program is nationally acclaimed.
The campus features science centers, art galleries, and a greenhouse. Wooster's mentored research model prepares students for graduate school and careers.
The College of Wooster Acceptance Rate
The College of Wooster takes a broad view of applicants, admitting about 54.3% each year.
What Wooster Admissions Looks For
- Whole-Person Review: Personal circumstances and career goals are weighed alongside grades.
- Flexible on GPA: Strong extracurriculars or work experience can offset an average transcript.
Selectivity at a Glance
Somewhat Selective
Selectivity scale: Somewhat Selective — 54.3% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.76 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.56 – 3.75
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.31
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
The College of Wooster Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
The application deadline for The College of Wooster is November 15 for Early Decision I applicants, with additional plans listed below. Admission decisions are typically released by December 15.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 106 days left — Early Decision I
Early Decision I
November 15
Decision by: December 15
Early Decision II
January 15
Decision by: February 15
Regular Decision
February 15
Decision by: April 1
Early Action
November 15
Decision by: January 15
💡 The scholarship deadline (November 15, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Wooster GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Wooster is 3.76. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.46 and 3.76? A strong standardized test score is worth prioritizing.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently — for an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.96–4.16.Wooster GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Highly selective; GPA is within the typical admitted range.
Recommended Strategy: Standardized Test Scores (SAT/ACT) in the top 5th percentile.
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.76 – 4.00
Competitive Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.56 – 3.75
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.36 – 3.55
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.35
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Optional 250-word supplemental essay tied explicitly to maximum scholarship consideration.
- Every student completes Independent Study (I.S.), a yearlong mentored research project culminating in a senior thesis.
- Early Decision I/II (Nov 1/Jan 15), Early Action (Nov 15), Regular Decision (Feb 15), and a January Start option (Dec 1 deadline).
- Test-optional; holistic review; students from 70+ countries.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Wooster
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on The College of Wooster's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
The College of Wooster (Wooster) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Wooster is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Wooster Without SAT or ACT?
Wooster considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt — most applicants test 2–3 times.
The College of Wooster Average SAT Score: 1370
The average SAT score of admitted students at The College of Wooster is 1370 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1370 — Competitive
This average is solidly above the national mean, without being in elite-tier territory.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1450 SAT or 32 ACT) to stand out. Below average? The College of Wooster allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1250, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Wooster. Retaking multiple times is completely normal — most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 665 | 610 | 720 |
| SAT Reading | 685 | 640 | 730 |
| SAT Composite | 1370 | 1250 | 1450 |
Below 1250, you're behind most admitted students; at 1450 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1350
Can I get into The College of Wooster (Wooster) with a 1450 SAT?
A 1450 SAT puts you ahead of most of Wooster's admitted class — but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
The College of Wooster (Wooster) ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at Wooster is 30.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 30 — Very Competitive
An average of 30 is well above the national ACT mean.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 28 | 25 | 31 |
| ACT English | 31 | 27 | 34 |
| ACT Composite | 30 | 27 | 32 |
Can I get into The College of Wooster with a 32 ACT?
A 32 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of Wooster's admitted students — a strong position, though the ACT is only one benchmark among several admissions weighs.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT scores four separate sections — English, Math, Reading, and Science — each on a 1–36 scale. A noticeably weak section (Science, especially, at STEM-focused schools) stands out to reviewers, so it's worth checking your section breakdown for outliers before applying.
Your ACT score clears the first filter, but GPA, course rigor, extracurricular depth, recommendations, and essays are what carry an application the rest of the way at Wooster.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Wooster
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Wooster is accessible to students who show core competency. Focus on proving readiness for college-level work and locking in financial aid.
Submit the optional 250-word essay for maximum scholarship consideration
Wooster's supplemental essay ("share something about yourself important for us to consider") is optional but explicitly tied to maximum scholarship eligibility - treat it as effectively required if merit aid matters to your decision.
Reference Independent Study (I.S.) directly in your application materials
Every Wooster student completes a yearlong, one-on-one mentored research project by senior year - naming a specific area you'd want to explore through I.S. shows you understand what makes Wooster distinct from peer liberal arts colleges, rather than describing "small classes" generically.
Choose your decision plan based on scholarship stakes, not just deadline convenience
Early Decision I applicants must apply for interest-based scholarships by November 1 specifically - if you're pursuing Wooster's named scholarship programs, confirm you're not missing a scholarship-specific sub-deadline buried inside the general ED timeline.
Consider the January Start option if you graduate mid-year
Wooster offers a December 1 deadline for a January (spring semester) start - a genuine option for students finishing high school on a non-standard calendar rather than waiting a full extra semester.
Expert Insight:
Because the supplemental essay is optional, some applicants skip it entirely - but Wooster explicitly ties it to "maximum scholarship consideration," so skipping it isn't neutral; it specifically forecloses full consideration for merit awards, unlike schools where optional essays are truly cosmetic.
Wooster Profile
Full Name
The College of Wooster (Wooster)
City
Wooster
State
Ohio
ZIP Code
44691
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a Wooster Degree Worth It?
Whether Wooster is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals — here's the data to weigh it against.
The average household income among admitted students is $69,900, with a graduate unemployment rate of 2.91%.
How much does a degree from Wooster Cost?
The sticker price is $73,075/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is typically much lower.
19.5% of students receive a Pell Grant and 44.6% take federal loans at Wooster — file your FAFSA early and list Wooster as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Wooster Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $59,629 — about 47% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than The College of Wooster. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama in Huntsville | Huntsville, AL | 1321 | 28 |
| Hendrix College | Conway, AR | 1336 | 29 |
| Chapman University | Orange, CA | 1353 | 30 |
| University of Colorado Boulder | Boulder, CO | 1353 | 31 |
| University of Denver | Denver, CO | 1344 | 31 |
| University of Connecticut | Storrs, CT | 1338 | 31 |
| Fairfield University | Fairfield, CT | 1323 | 31 |
| Florida State University | Tallahassee, FL | 1323 | 29 |
| Centre College | Danville, KY | 1345 | 29 |
| Bentley University | Waltham, MA | 1340 | 31 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as The College of Wooster. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperdine University | Malibu, CA | 1367 | 29 |
| Westmont College | Santa Barbara, CA | 1367 | 32 |
| United States Air Force Academy | USAF Academy, CO | 1362 | 30 |
| Wheaton College | Wheaton, IL | 1363 | 30 |
| St Olaf College | Northfield, MN | 1373 | 30 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than The College of Wooster. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Clara University | Santa Clara, CA | 1417 | 32 |
| Colorado College | Colorado Springs, CO | 1445 | 33 |
| Colorado School of Mines | Golden, CO | 1403 | 31 |
| Connecticut College | New London, CT | 1412 | 32 |
| George Washington University | Washington, DC | 1433 | 33 |
Degree Programs at Wooster
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Wooster Admissions
Median graduate earnings at The College of Wooster run about $59,629 a year.
At about $73,075 a year, The College of Wooster's cost is on the higher end; look closely at aid options.
The College of Wooster's Pell Grant rate of 19.5% sits below the national average — merit-based aid is worth checking regardless of income.
At 54.3%, The College of Wooster's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at The College of Wooster average a 3.76 GPA.
The College of Wooster doesn't publish a hard GPA floor — but landing at or above 3.46 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.36, The College of Wooster becomes a harder reach — though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at The College of Wooster — aim above 1370, ideally within the 1250–1450 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for The College of Wooster is November 15 for Early Decision I applicants. Admission decisions are released by December 15.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is November 15, 2026. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes — transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most — along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.